metamorphic
Serpentine
Antigorite, Lizardite, and Chrysotile (Mg3Si2O5(OH)4)
Hardness: 3-5 Mohs; Color: Various shades of green, black, and yellow; Luster: Waxy to greasy; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Poor; Specific Gravity: 2.5-2.6
- Hardness
- 3-5 Mohs
- Color
- Various shades of green, black, and yellow
- Luster
- Waxy to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-5 Mohs; Color: Various shades of green, black, and yellow; Luster: Waxy to greasy; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Poor; Specific Gravity: 2.5-2.6
Formation & geological history
Formed through serpentinization, the hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic igneous rocks like peridotite at low temperatures in the presence of water.
Uses & applications
Used for ornamental carvings, architectural stone (verd antique), gemstones, and historically as a source of asbestos.
Geological facts
Serpentine is the state rock of California; it is often mistaken for jade due to its color and texture, earned the name because of its mottled skin-like appearance.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic waxy luster, smoothness, and green mottled coloring; commonly found in ophiolite complexes and tectonic plate boundaries.
